In conversation the other day, I made the bold claim that the degree to which you get defensive about outsiders pointing out your country or culture’s very obvious flaws is directly proportional to the degree to which your culture is pathological.
I forgot another few references Lob. makes to specific cultures:
"For our purposes, we should also draw attention to a type with deviant features [i.e. skirtoids] which was isolated long ago by E. Brzezicki and accepted by Ernst Kretschmer as characteristic of Eastern and Central Europe in particular. ... If we wish to understand the history of Russia, as well as Poland to a lesser extent, we should take into consideration a certain mark which this anomaly imprints onto the character of the peoples of this region of the world."
"The quantitative and qualitative composition of this biopsychologically deficient fraction of the population certainly varies in time and space on our planet. This may be represented by a single-digit percentage in some nations, in the teens in others. Poland had a relatively low burden, but this share has grown alarmingly; Scandinavian countries, especially Norway, have the lowest burden in Europe; in the U.S., a nation built on the immigration of difficult people, this share is relatively high."
Who gets more aggressive when the virtue of their culture is challenged is trivial to answer:
Any kind of MENA moslem, and American/Israeli Jews.
Long ramble:
Another angle is if it's in private or in public. Most European peoples are very different in public compared to how they act with trusted friends and family, in part because of the risk of social ostracisation but also in many nations because of the very real risk of career-suicide or going to prison for voicing the wrong opinions on political matters
Also, worth considering is this, using Scandinavians/Nordics as an example:
A foreigner, if non-white to use the Americanism, who points out "flaws" is lauded for being a brave observer of truths, while a fellow Norwegian (or whatever) doing the same is shunned and screamed at (if the flaw pointed out is an otherwise politically correct trait deemed a virtue by the gatekeepers and guardians of the Jante-law).
If I was to point out to PC-thinking Swedes how wrong it is, in every way, that convicted child-rapists from Affghanistan gets permanent residency, citizenship, free dental and health care, free housing and full welfare as well as normal pensions - despite their crimes - most Swedes would (if we're in public) defend this as right and humane, and rationalise in a most racist fashion the actions of the Afghan as something he cannot be blamed for, since his people don't know any better.
In private, virtually all Swedes barring those who are members of the 8 major political parties (who only differ in degreem, not in character or ideology), agree that such creatures ought to be taken out back and shot, or be kicked out of the nation.
I'm fairly certain the aggressiveness displayed by some people is mainly performative so as to confirm to their fellows how good a member of the group they are; however, Arabs, Persians, Gypsies, and Negro peoples will use violence to get their way as a matter of course and without much planning or forethought. You may very well get stabbed over a dispute over a parking spot, if arguing with a gaggle of gypsies, whereas a Jew in that situation may certainly be aggressive and outright hostile and insulting - but he or she would virtually never assault you.
Yet another angle is city vs countryside. City-people are much more "anywheres" while country bumpkins such as myself are much more "this land is my land and if you stand on it you show respect".
Delicious 👏 and "cultural relatavism is for fools" 💥 ...and marxists, particularly university educated ones.
My "kultcha", my ...construct. The pretend nation of Arse-strayla. The facade is falling to bits as the actors learn entirely different lines, in fact, like all moderne plays, this next Act has few plotlines that Actors of the first set will even recognise.
Like all of the "constructed" White nations of the last few centuries, the Oz that I grew up in delinquesces. Ambushed by a radicalized Left Wing, where Right is now Left, Left, Left, our bureaucracy, taught self loathing and White Guilt, carefully deconstructs our simple middle class dreams. In it's place, the angry, poor, non English speaking literal peasants of the failed states of the non West flood our lands.
White Replacement in action.
Our very own Main Stream Murderers inform us perkily that everyone is equal but White is less equal, so be "fair", move aside greedy whitey & let us introduce Capital Gains Tax on Unrealised Gains... Death taxes a la UK next.
The Corporatocracy desires a Meta Society, bland, polite, Karened, dissent not censored oh no, just not accessible, for Order 😉, dontcha know. And Canada reminds us, Suicide is Painless.
Didja know that September 2024 Earth moved into the constellation Aquarius? As in “The Age of…”? 🙏 Shaman lore has it that this heralds the end of The State, of centralised power and a new apocalypse, which really means an Unveiling! So i see portents! 😵💫
The Enemy is Legion. WEF/WHO/UN/DeepState/Banksters/BigSick/ALL BILLIONAIRES, ASI… i could go on 😉
Oh yeah, and we’re all gonna die… BUT (Jack be nimble/Jack be quick) not all at once! 😂
To live: refuse digital ID, digital banking, use cash, acquire silver & gold & trade in barter. Lose the Fiat Currency! It is as poisonous as mRNA biowepons. Get out of the city. WWIII & a few casual nukes next so they can throw the dice. Be Staunch.
A question that occurred to me while reading this was how heritable, at a societal level, positive stereotypical traits were. In other words, if a nation is depathologized, will the population eventually start reflecting its best traits more than its worst?
DARVO is real. Collective narcissists are as capable of it as individualistic narcissists. Too much of their sense of self is wrapped up in being superior, in some way, to other people.
Yeah the truth hurts. Seems the stereotypes rise with the pathology, sure. Could there be a forum where we dwell on how all the good stuff rises up, in spite of the evil in the world?
Behind on the garden, North of 60 we go from 6 inches of snow ten days ago to 20c, which is way too hot. So will try to keep it short.
For me the topic of Psychopaths is the most crucial in the world today. That Harrison has never dropped this burden is amazing. It is not an easy or readily funded project. Bill Gates will not leave a huge foundation for researching this topic.
My only hope for Ponerology, is that the comments here do not follow the pattern of SOTT, where if one has not the time or inclination to follow everything religiously, it becomes like some secret club for members only.
As an American in Canada half my life now, should be able to come up with a couple of stereotype gems. Canadians have very politely become a doormat for globalist domination. They not only belief the CBC news, they trust the cartoons too.
As for Americans, their smart phones may pass manufacturing specs but do not seem to be helping the people get the least bit smarter, only more insistent when they "know" something. I blame the phones.
Love seeing the Ponerology topic getting the light of day. Thanks Koehli, well done!
That was good Harrison. In studying tribalism, group think and Grok's analysis is rounding the number in generalities, it's so easy for individuals to lose their identity's to being caught up in the moment. Carl Jung proffered the fact that we need to confront the shadow side of ourselves and recognize it for what it is, instead of living in denial of it.
I also re-stacked another part of what gets so easily overlooked by that herd mentality that will promulgate question begging epitaphs about strangers they don't know or even want to know, as agenda/quota driven individuals tend to overlook some of the simpler assertions in common sense.
"He says it is because they have a highly distorted perception of Reality (in the Misean sense). I do agree that statists of all stripes misperceive Reality, believing that collective nouns (like party, class, nation, corporation) can engage in Human Action. They cannot, as Mises showed – only individuals think, plan and act."
For a perfect example of why MENA-peoples are the most defensive/aggressive, watch Joe rogan's interview with Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass. Never mind the actual archeological stuff, just watch Hawass' reaction when he is challenged, gently and friendly, by Rogan.
Immediate defensive aggression in tone and manner, immediately becoming agitated and angry, at the slightest notion that perhaps there's much more to Hawass' field than is currently accepted as The Science.
And as Hawass is an intelligent, well-read and highly placed person of MENA origin who reacts this way, imagine how a lower order member of the same group reacts to having their authority challenged in the slightest.
Your article on cultural stereotypes and pathocratic systems touched me deeply. Your exploration of how societal structures can be subtly infiltrated and reshaped by pathological influences is both enlightening and unsettling. The way you dissect the mechanisms by which these systems perpetuate themselves, often under the guise of cultural norms or stereotypes, is a testament to your analytical depth and commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths.
As someone who delves into similar themes in my Substack, Celestial Love Letters, I find our areas of focus remarkably aligned. Your insights into the psychological underpinnings of societal dysfunction mirror the contemplation I share with my readers. I believe a collaboration between us could yield enriching discussions that challenge and inspire our audiences.
Would you be open to exploring a joint piece or a dialogue that bridges our perspectives? I envision a collaboration that not only highlights our shared concerns but also offers pathways to understanding and resilience.
Looking forward to the possibility of working together.
'“who is abnormal here, me or this world of people who feel and think differently?” are answered in the world’s disfavor. ' - this heuristic worked well in the military, but in a world where one sits at the right hand side of the IQ bell curve with maybe 5-10% of the population in the AUC, one realizes that one's mental architecture *does* cause differences in the output of moral algorithms because of perceptual and cognitive features that are not shared with 90 to 95 percent of the rest of the population. One must take ego out of the loop when considering this factor to avoid the ponerological attractor logic like this leads to, however. Many cannot do that.
I've mentioned before that I lived with over 100 different people, over 8 years, in a housing co-op. Living in such close quarters offers insight into the different facets of a person's life that they can't really mask the way they might at work or school. I can describe the ease or difficulty living with housemates in roughly four categories:
1) mature and reasonable;
2) immature/irresponsible;'
3) dysfunctional; and
4) personality-disordered.
Those in the third category exhibited C-PTSD type behavior—no conflict resolution skills, bad boundaries, generating unnecessary drama—but not to the level of a personality disorder. Most of my housemates fell into one of the first two categories and the fourth was a rare exception.
However, I lived with six different Indian people in eight years. They didn't know each other, they came from all different parts of the country, they were all born in the US to immigrant parents. One was more or less OK, one was totally dysfunctional and the other four were toxic, obviously cluster-b crazy people.
The four awful ones all had upper-caste parents from India; the dysfunctional one had struggling subcontinental parents who were less affluent. The one functional housemate's parents were diaspora Indians from Belize and were not culturally very Indian at all. They sounded Jamaican.
All of them were stridently anti-white, which I could chalk up to the culture of the co-op, but this hatred grew in intensity from the best to worst housemates. The Belizean one seemed to have a normal relationship with her parents and the rest had really enmeshed families. I had the distinct impression that they secretly hated their parents.
I don't know how many stereotypes exist about Indian people who grew up in America, but I can tell you that those often attributed to white people were doubly so for these Indians: over-ambitious; sheltered; entitled; corny; the men couldn't dance, or talk to women; couldn't tell a joke (or take a joke); generally uptight. And yet, they assumed they were automatically "down" with the other POC in the house.
It seems to me that blacks and Latinos are generally pretty non-neurotic, and even the militant ones I lived with weren't constantly keeping score of who used the wrong word, or who phrased something in such a way that it could be construed as insufficiently anti-racist. However, Jews and Indian people did this constantly—perpetual agitation from both groups, across the network of 3 houses that formed our larger organization. When Jews had an agenda, they would basically form a bloc, in soladaristic lock-step with each other (though I don't know how obvious this was to other members). Indians had all the same tenacity, paranoia and ambition, but while Jews were highly cooperative, Indians were in constant competition, with knives out for one another, constant one-upmanship and mutual distrust. And yet, when they couldn't get along and dragged everyone into their drama, in the end it was still the fault of white people, or of "whiteness", somehow.
Also, even the most pampered Jewish-American princess would still do her chores, when it was her turn to do the grunt work. The Indians would sign up for all these different roles where they could show off and outdo each other, but they wouldn't scrub a toilet if their lives depended on it. It was a constant problem for those behind them on the weekly chore wheel. I'm guessing they just felt menial labor was beneath them.
They also seemed to have all these unspoken rules about what is or isn't polite, and they constantly kept score in this regard as well. If an Indian was in a room talking to someone who was moving around, straightening up books or washing dishes or something, and they momentarily turned their back to do whatever it was they were doing, the Indian would hold a grudge about this and complain to someone else later that so-and-so showed his back to them while they were talking. If they were talking to multiple people in a group, walking down the sidewalk, and one person started walking ahead of them, they would take this as a slight. They seemed to assume these were universally understood as good or bad manners.
I remember my sister was friends with an Indian guy in high school, who became class valedictorian. He gave an acceptance speech in front of the student body and their families, where he thanked his teachers, his counselor, the principal, but he neglected to explicitly thank his parents in front of everyone and they absolutely shunned him for this, believing he brought dishonor upon the family.
Anyway, living with these people was a watershed moment for me because I grappled with my own feelings of contempt, assuming there must be something about my un-examined bias that made me perceive them in such a negative way, ultimately deciding that no, it's them. I had no prejudice because I had no preconceived notions about them, one way or another. Their own cultural baggage made them I N S U F F E R A B L E and I judge their behavior with zero compunction. And when I see a hyper-political striver like Jagmeet Singh, or Vivek Ramaswamy, or Hari Kandabolu, they exude this familiar unctuousness that makes my skin crawl.
tl;dr I'm prejudiced against 2nd-generation Indians now. Sari, not sorry!
The First Night I Slept in Mexico, I Wasn’t Sure I’d Made the Right Choice
I landed in Mexico with a suitcase, a phrasebook, and a head full of hope. My “dream apartment” in Mérida turned out to be a concrete oven with a broken fan and a rooster that started crowing at 3:30 a.m. By the end of week one, I’d been overcharged by a taxi, scammed by a “tour guide,” and left my debit card in an ATM that promptly ate it. I remember sitting on the curb that night, sweat-soaked and exhausted, wondering if I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.
That’s when Rosa, my neighbor, knocked on my door with a plate of tamales and a smile that made me feel less alone. She didn’t speak English, but somehow, her kindness translated perfectly. She taught me my first real lesson: in Mexico, you survive by showing up, asking questions, and letting people help you.
The weeks that followed were a blur of trial and error. I learned that “mañana” doesn’t always mean tomorrow, that street tacos taste best at midnight, and that the most important Spanish phrase is “¿Me puede ayudar?” (Can you help me?). I got lost in the markets of Oaxaca, wandered into a festival I didn’t understand, and danced with strangers who became friends by sunrise.
I’ll never forget the night I found myself stranded in a tiny pueblo after missing the last bus. I was nervous, out of place, and ready to panic. But an old man named Don Felipe invited me to his family’s table. We shared pozole and stories, and for the first time since arriving, I felt like I belonged somewhere. That night, I slept on a hammock under the stars, listening to laughter and distant mariachis, and realized that sometimes the best plan is to let go of your plans.
There were hard days too. Days when I missed home so much it hurt. Days when I felt invisible, awkward, or just plain lost. I struggled to open a bank account, to find a doctor who spoke English, to navigate the maze of residency paperwork. I made mistakes-so many mistakes-but each one taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way.
But for every facepalm moment, Mexico gave me something better in return:
• A hidden cenote in Yucatán where I floated in silence, watched by curious bats.
• A street market in Oaxaca where an abuela slipped me extra tortillas because I asked about her grandchildren.
• A mechanic in Baja who fixed my car with duct tape, a prayer, and a cold Coca-Cola.
• The first time a local called me “amigo” and meant it.
I learned the real Mexico isn’t in the brochures or the Instagram feeds. It’s in the kindness of strangers, the neighborhoods where you’re greeted by name, and the quiet confidence that comes from finally figuring out how to pay your CFE bill without Google Translate. It’s in the heartbreak of missing home, and the joy of realizing you’ve found a new one.
Why I Wrote the Mexico Master Key
I wrote this guide because I wish someone had handed me a map-not just to places, but to people, shortcuts, and the unwritten rules that make Mexico feel like home.
Inside, you’ll find:
• The neighborhoods where expats and locals actually mix (and how to find your tribe)
• The taco stands, clinics, and markets that saved me (and could save you)
• Scripts for dodging scams, making friends, and getting what you need-without getting ripped off
• Step-by-step help for moving, traveling, and thriving here-no matter your Spanish level
• The emotional truths: how to handle homesickness, what to do when you feel lost, and why every mistake is a step closer to belonging
If you’re ready to skip the rookie mistakes and discover the Mexico that changed my life, check the comments or my bio for your Master Key.
Because moving or traveling here isn’t just about finding paradise.
It’s about finding yourself-and a place that finally feels like home.
If you’re standing at the edge of a new life, don’t go it alone. Let my hard-won lessons, heartbreaks, and hidden gems be your shortcut. Grab your Master Key and open the door to the real Mexico. End Quote
Of course that Grok dude has visited every one of these countries, lived in them for a while and got a taste of the "culture", right? Hardly...these A/i retardos can be programmed to come up with answers that are nothing more than a jumble of widely accepted stereotypes. Strange how the minority usually ends up describing the majority.
I was born and live in the US but don't know if I am an American. I never think about these labels. I am not loud, obese or too ignorant. I don't care much about culture because that is kind of cultist to me. But if others want to celebrate their culture, I don't mind.
Patriotism is over-rated. Do I want to be fighting for a government that hates me? Yes, our government masters look down upon us as their slaves not to buck the "system". True, our government has gone far, far over the edge interfering with many countries around the world. We should not be doing this.
Finally, freedom and democracy have nothing in common. If you would truly be free, you do not need a fake democracy which only ends up with the government controlling things anyway. Yes, I am like a Russian in that I do not blindly trust any authority. Why would I? With authority comes the power to run roughshod over the underlings and pretend to get away with it. So if I am labeled a conspiratard, so be it. Lately, most conspiracies have been closer to the truth than not.
I forgot another few references Lob. makes to specific cultures:
"For our purposes, we should also draw attention to a type with deviant features [i.e. skirtoids] which was isolated long ago by E. Brzezicki and accepted by Ernst Kretschmer as characteristic of Eastern and Central Europe in particular. ... If we wish to understand the history of Russia, as well as Poland to a lesser extent, we should take into consideration a certain mark which this anomaly imprints onto the character of the peoples of this region of the world."
"The quantitative and qualitative composition of this biopsychologically deficient fraction of the population certainly varies in time and space on our planet. This may be represented by a single-digit percentage in some nations, in the teens in others. Poland had a relatively low burden, but this share has grown alarmingly; Scandinavian countries, especially Norway, have the lowest burden in Europe; in the U.S., a nation built on the immigration of difficult people, this share is relatively high."
Short answer:
Who gets more aggressive when the virtue of their culture is challenged is trivial to answer:
Any kind of MENA moslem, and American/Israeli Jews.
Long ramble:
Another angle is if it's in private or in public. Most European peoples are very different in public compared to how they act with trusted friends and family, in part because of the risk of social ostracisation but also in many nations because of the very real risk of career-suicide or going to prison for voicing the wrong opinions on political matters
Also, worth considering is this, using Scandinavians/Nordics as an example:
A foreigner, if non-white to use the Americanism, who points out "flaws" is lauded for being a brave observer of truths, while a fellow Norwegian (or whatever) doing the same is shunned and screamed at (if the flaw pointed out is an otherwise politically correct trait deemed a virtue by the gatekeepers and guardians of the Jante-law).
If I was to point out to PC-thinking Swedes how wrong it is, in every way, that convicted child-rapists from Affghanistan gets permanent residency, citizenship, free dental and health care, free housing and full welfare as well as normal pensions - despite their crimes - most Swedes would (if we're in public) defend this as right and humane, and rationalise in a most racist fashion the actions of the Afghan as something he cannot be blamed for, since his people don't know any better.
In private, virtually all Swedes barring those who are members of the 8 major political parties (who only differ in degreem, not in character or ideology), agree that such creatures ought to be taken out back and shot, or be kicked out of the nation.
I'm fairly certain the aggressiveness displayed by some people is mainly performative so as to confirm to their fellows how good a member of the group they are; however, Arabs, Persians, Gypsies, and Negro peoples will use violence to get their way as a matter of course and without much planning or forethought. You may very well get stabbed over a dispute over a parking spot, if arguing with a gaggle of gypsies, whereas a Jew in that situation may certainly be aggressive and outright hostile and insulting - but he or she would virtually never assault you.
Yet another angle is city vs countryside. City-people are much more "anywheres" while country bumpkins such as myself are much more "this land is my land and if you stand on it you show respect".
You never disappoint great article.
Delicious 👏 and "cultural relatavism is for fools" 💥 ...and marxists, particularly university educated ones.
My "kultcha", my ...construct. The pretend nation of Arse-strayla. The facade is falling to bits as the actors learn entirely different lines, in fact, like all moderne plays, this next Act has few plotlines that Actors of the first set will even recognise.
Like all of the "constructed" White nations of the last few centuries, the Oz that I grew up in delinquesces. Ambushed by a radicalized Left Wing, where Right is now Left, Left, Left, our bureaucracy, taught self loathing and White Guilt, carefully deconstructs our simple middle class dreams. In it's place, the angry, poor, non English speaking literal peasants of the failed states of the non West flood our lands.
White Replacement in action.
Our very own Main Stream Murderers inform us perkily that everyone is equal but White is less equal, so be "fair", move aside greedy whitey & let us introduce Capital Gains Tax on Unrealised Gains... Death taxes a la UK next.
The Corporatocracy desires a Meta Society, bland, polite, Karened, dissent not censored oh no, just not accessible, for Order 😉, dontcha know. And Canada reminds us, Suicide is Painless.
Wow! Pungent and honest. So scary.
Didja know that September 2024 Earth moved into the constellation Aquarius? As in “The Age of…”? 🙏 Shaman lore has it that this heralds the end of The State, of centralised power and a new apocalypse, which really means an Unveiling! So i see portents! 😵💫
The Enemy is Legion. WEF/WHO/UN/DeepState/Banksters/BigSick/ALL BILLIONAIRES, ASI… i could go on 😉
Oh yeah, and we’re all gonna die… BUT (Jack be nimble/Jack be quick) not all at once! 😂
To live: refuse digital ID, digital banking, use cash, acquire silver & gold & trade in barter. Lose the Fiat Currency! It is as poisonous as mRNA biowepons. Get out of the city. WWIII & a few casual nukes next so they can throw the dice. Be Staunch.
Excellent article.
A question that occurred to me while reading this was how heritable, at a societal level, positive stereotypical traits were. In other words, if a nation is depathologized, will the population eventually start reflecting its best traits more than its worst?
Some of Grok's summaries are hilarious! Great piece, thanks for that.
DARVO is real. Collective narcissists are as capable of it as individualistic narcissists. Too much of their sense of self is wrapped up in being superior, in some way, to other people.
Yeah the truth hurts. Seems the stereotypes rise with the pathology, sure. Could there be a forum where we dwell on how all the good stuff rises up, in spite of the evil in the world?
Behind on the garden, North of 60 we go from 6 inches of snow ten days ago to 20c, which is way too hot. So will try to keep it short.
For me the topic of Psychopaths is the most crucial in the world today. That Harrison has never dropped this burden is amazing. It is not an easy or readily funded project. Bill Gates will not leave a huge foundation for researching this topic.
My only hope for Ponerology, is that the comments here do not follow the pattern of SOTT, where if one has not the time or inclination to follow everything religiously, it becomes like some secret club for members only.
As an American in Canada half my life now, should be able to come up with a couple of stereotype gems. Canadians have very politely become a doormat for globalist domination. They not only belief the CBC news, they trust the cartoons too.
As for Americans, their smart phones may pass manufacturing specs but do not seem to be helping the people get the least bit smarter, only more insistent when they "know" something. I blame the phones.
Love seeing the Ponerology topic getting the light of day. Thanks Koehli, well done!
That was good Harrison. In studying tribalism, group think and Grok's analysis is rounding the number in generalities, it's so easy for individuals to lose their identity's to being caught up in the moment. Carl Jung proffered the fact that we need to confront the shadow side of ourselves and recognize it for what it is, instead of living in denial of it.
I also re-stacked another part of what gets so easily overlooked by that herd mentality that will promulgate question begging epitaphs about strangers they don't know or even want to know, as agenda/quota driven individuals tend to overlook some of the simpler assertions in common sense.
"He says it is because they have a highly distorted perception of Reality (in the Misean sense). I do agree that statists of all stripes misperceive Reality, believing that collective nouns (like party, class, nation, corporation) can engage in Human Action. They cannot, as Mises showed – only individuals think, plan and act."
For a perfect example of why MENA-peoples are the most defensive/aggressive, watch Joe rogan's interview with Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass. Never mind the actual archeological stuff, just watch Hawass' reaction when he is challenged, gently and friendly, by Rogan.
Immediate defensive aggression in tone and manner, immediately becoming agitated and angry, at the slightest notion that perhaps there's much more to Hawass' field than is currently accepted as The Science.
And as Hawass is an intelligent, well-read and highly placed person of MENA origin who reacts this way, imagine how a lower order member of the same group reacts to having their authority challenged in the slightest.
Your article on cultural stereotypes and pathocratic systems touched me deeply. Your exploration of how societal structures can be subtly infiltrated and reshaped by pathological influences is both enlightening and unsettling. The way you dissect the mechanisms by which these systems perpetuate themselves, often under the guise of cultural norms or stereotypes, is a testament to your analytical depth and commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths.
As someone who delves into similar themes in my Substack, Celestial Love Letters, I find our areas of focus remarkably aligned. Your insights into the psychological underpinnings of societal dysfunction mirror the contemplation I share with my readers. I believe a collaboration between us could yield enriching discussions that challenge and inspire our audiences.
Would you be open to exploring a joint piece or a dialogue that bridges our perspectives? I envision a collaboration that not only highlights our shared concerns but also offers pathways to understanding and resilience.
Looking forward to the possibility of working together.
Warm regards,
Ranjit
'“who is abnormal here, me or this world of people who feel and think differently?” are answered in the world’s disfavor. ' - this heuristic worked well in the military, but in a world where one sits at the right hand side of the IQ bell curve with maybe 5-10% of the population in the AUC, one realizes that one's mental architecture *does* cause differences in the output of moral algorithms because of perceptual and cognitive features that are not shared with 90 to 95 percent of the rest of the population. One must take ego out of the loop when considering this factor to avoid the ponerological attractor logic like this leads to, however. Many cannot do that.
I've mentioned before that I lived with over 100 different people, over 8 years, in a housing co-op. Living in such close quarters offers insight into the different facets of a person's life that they can't really mask the way they might at work or school. I can describe the ease or difficulty living with housemates in roughly four categories:
1) mature and reasonable;
2) immature/irresponsible;'
3) dysfunctional; and
4) personality-disordered.
Those in the third category exhibited C-PTSD type behavior—no conflict resolution skills, bad boundaries, generating unnecessary drama—but not to the level of a personality disorder. Most of my housemates fell into one of the first two categories and the fourth was a rare exception.
However, I lived with six different Indian people in eight years. They didn't know each other, they came from all different parts of the country, they were all born in the US to immigrant parents. One was more or less OK, one was totally dysfunctional and the other four were toxic, obviously cluster-b crazy people.
The four awful ones all had upper-caste parents from India; the dysfunctional one had struggling subcontinental parents who were less affluent. The one functional housemate's parents were diaspora Indians from Belize and were not culturally very Indian at all. They sounded Jamaican.
All of them were stridently anti-white, which I could chalk up to the culture of the co-op, but this hatred grew in intensity from the best to worst housemates. The Belizean one seemed to have a normal relationship with her parents and the rest had really enmeshed families. I had the distinct impression that they secretly hated their parents.
I don't know how many stereotypes exist about Indian people who grew up in America, but I can tell you that those often attributed to white people were doubly so for these Indians: over-ambitious; sheltered; entitled; corny; the men couldn't dance, or talk to women; couldn't tell a joke (or take a joke); generally uptight. And yet, they assumed they were automatically "down" with the other POC in the house.
It seems to me that blacks and Latinos are generally pretty non-neurotic, and even the militant ones I lived with weren't constantly keeping score of who used the wrong word, or who phrased something in such a way that it could be construed as insufficiently anti-racist. However, Jews and Indian people did this constantly—perpetual agitation from both groups, across the network of 3 houses that formed our larger organization. When Jews had an agenda, they would basically form a bloc, in soladaristic lock-step with each other (though I don't know how obvious this was to other members). Indians had all the same tenacity, paranoia and ambition, but while Jews were highly cooperative, Indians were in constant competition, with knives out for one another, constant one-upmanship and mutual distrust. And yet, when they couldn't get along and dragged everyone into their drama, in the end it was still the fault of white people, or of "whiteness", somehow.
Also, even the most pampered Jewish-American princess would still do her chores, when it was her turn to do the grunt work. The Indians would sign up for all these different roles where they could show off and outdo each other, but they wouldn't scrub a toilet if their lives depended on it. It was a constant problem for those behind them on the weekly chore wheel. I'm guessing they just felt menial labor was beneath them.
They also seemed to have all these unspoken rules about what is or isn't polite, and they constantly kept score in this regard as well. If an Indian was in a room talking to someone who was moving around, straightening up books or washing dishes or something, and they momentarily turned their back to do whatever it was they were doing, the Indian would hold a grudge about this and complain to someone else later that so-and-so showed his back to them while they were talking. If they were talking to multiple people in a group, walking down the sidewalk, and one person started walking ahead of them, they would take this as a slight. They seemed to assume these were universally understood as good or bad manners.
I remember my sister was friends with an Indian guy in high school, who became class valedictorian. He gave an acceptance speech in front of the student body and their families, where he thanked his teachers, his counselor, the principal, but he neglected to explicitly thank his parents in front of everyone and they absolutely shunned him for this, believing he brought dishonor upon the family.
Anyway, living with these people was a watershed moment for me because I grappled with my own feelings of contempt, assuming there must be something about my un-examined bias that made me perceive them in such a negative way, ultimately deciding that no, it's them. I had no prejudice because I had no preconceived notions about them, one way or another. Their own cultural baggage made them I N S U F F E R A B L E and I judge their behavior with zero compunction. And when I see a hyper-political striver like Jagmeet Singh, or Vivek Ramaswamy, or Hari Kandabolu, they exude this familiar unctuousness that makes my skin crawl.
tl;dr I'm prejudiced against 2nd-generation Indians now. Sari, not sorry!
(Although I am sorry for that terrible pun at the end.)
Another great post. Thanks, Martin.
Yet, Quote from expat in Mexico (FB)
The First Night I Slept in Mexico, I Wasn’t Sure I’d Made the Right Choice
I landed in Mexico with a suitcase, a phrasebook, and a head full of hope. My “dream apartment” in Mérida turned out to be a concrete oven with a broken fan and a rooster that started crowing at 3:30 a.m. By the end of week one, I’d been overcharged by a taxi, scammed by a “tour guide,” and left my debit card in an ATM that promptly ate it. I remember sitting on the curb that night, sweat-soaked and exhausted, wondering if I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.
That’s when Rosa, my neighbor, knocked on my door with a plate of tamales and a smile that made me feel less alone. She didn’t speak English, but somehow, her kindness translated perfectly. She taught me my first real lesson: in Mexico, you survive by showing up, asking questions, and letting people help you.
The weeks that followed were a blur of trial and error. I learned that “mañana” doesn’t always mean tomorrow, that street tacos taste best at midnight, and that the most important Spanish phrase is “¿Me puede ayudar?” (Can you help me?). I got lost in the markets of Oaxaca, wandered into a festival I didn’t understand, and danced with strangers who became friends by sunrise.
I’ll never forget the night I found myself stranded in a tiny pueblo after missing the last bus. I was nervous, out of place, and ready to panic. But an old man named Don Felipe invited me to his family’s table. We shared pozole and stories, and for the first time since arriving, I felt like I belonged somewhere. That night, I slept on a hammock under the stars, listening to laughter and distant mariachis, and realized that sometimes the best plan is to let go of your plans.
There were hard days too. Days when I missed home so much it hurt. Days when I felt invisible, awkward, or just plain lost. I struggled to open a bank account, to find a doctor who spoke English, to navigate the maze of residency paperwork. I made mistakes-so many mistakes-but each one taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way.
But for every facepalm moment, Mexico gave me something better in return:
• A hidden cenote in Yucatán where I floated in silence, watched by curious bats.
• A street market in Oaxaca where an abuela slipped me extra tortillas because I asked about her grandchildren.
• A mechanic in Baja who fixed my car with duct tape, a prayer, and a cold Coca-Cola.
• The first time a local called me “amigo” and meant it.
I learned the real Mexico isn’t in the brochures or the Instagram feeds. It’s in the kindness of strangers, the neighborhoods where you’re greeted by name, and the quiet confidence that comes from finally figuring out how to pay your CFE bill without Google Translate. It’s in the heartbreak of missing home, and the joy of realizing you’ve found a new one.
Why I Wrote the Mexico Master Key
I wrote this guide because I wish someone had handed me a map-not just to places, but to people, shortcuts, and the unwritten rules that make Mexico feel like home.
Inside, you’ll find:
• The neighborhoods where expats and locals actually mix (and how to find your tribe)
• The taco stands, clinics, and markets that saved me (and could save you)
• Scripts for dodging scams, making friends, and getting what you need-without getting ripped off
• Step-by-step help for moving, traveling, and thriving here-no matter your Spanish level
• The emotional truths: how to handle homesickness, what to do when you feel lost, and why every mistake is a step closer to belonging
If you’re ready to skip the rookie mistakes and discover the Mexico that changed my life, check the comments or my bio for your Master Key.
https://www.wanderlatam.com/product-page/mexico-master-key?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4Jzw2PyDH32EWInEnZKyMSD3CpKkihOz20F3H7t-ItHJiqarHS1Wazp3sgvA_aem_IKz4LJQLfy2JY4kpXNjXSw
Because moving or traveling here isn’t just about finding paradise.
It’s about finding yourself-and a place that finally feels like home.
If you’re standing at the edge of a new life, don’t go it alone. Let my hard-won lessons, heartbreaks, and hidden gems be your shortcut. Grab your Master Key and open the door to the real Mexico. End Quote
Of course that Grok dude has visited every one of these countries, lived in them for a while and got a taste of the "culture", right? Hardly...these A/i retardos can be programmed to come up with answers that are nothing more than a jumble of widely accepted stereotypes. Strange how the minority usually ends up describing the majority.
I was born and live in the US but don't know if I am an American. I never think about these labels. I am not loud, obese or too ignorant. I don't care much about culture because that is kind of cultist to me. But if others want to celebrate their culture, I don't mind.
Patriotism is over-rated. Do I want to be fighting for a government that hates me? Yes, our government masters look down upon us as their slaves not to buck the "system". True, our government has gone far, far over the edge interfering with many countries around the world. We should not be doing this.
Finally, freedom and democracy have nothing in common. If you would truly be free, you do not need a fake democracy which only ends up with the government controlling things anyway. Yes, I am like a Russian in that I do not blindly trust any authority. Why would I? With authority comes the power to run roughshod over the underlings and pretend to get away with it. So if I am labeled a conspiratard, so be it. Lately, most conspiracies have been closer to the truth than not.
So you’re saying Grok has never been? ;)